[MARMELADINA]

I definitely have "authority issues."

Sounds great... me too!

I define my self as an "autarchist"

The irony for me is that their humility makes me actually trust them as leaders, which is a weird feeling [...] Yes, I know about that feeling. But I think that in the case of such guys they, if authentic teachers, will never lead you into a kind of "worship a guru" way of teaching, that happens in other traditions. Also honest Zen, too, at least in some Soto schools, discourage highly the worshiping of teachers with students. I have found that same aim in the way some Thai Forest teachers taught the Dhamma.

When a teaching is open, clear, simple exposed and direct to the issue of Dukkha, take it for sure that that teacher is vaccinating you against worshiping. On the contrary, when a teaching is "esoteric", hidden, allegorical, highly sophisticated, sold as something really unique... hm mm... behind that is the need of worshiping and a high cult to the person of the teacher and the teaching.

Teachings have to be taught for liberation... including from the teacher.